Defending champions UAP Rhinos marched into the Bamburi Rugby Super Series semi finals with a 24-19 Pool A win over the Lions in an entertaining fixture Played at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium on Saturday 14th May 2011.

Nick Lang’o Put the Rhinos 5-0 ahead, scoring the easiest of tries from a scrum down after two minutes of Play. Isaac Adimo’s conversion saw them take a 7-0 lead after two minutes of Play. This stung the Lions into a response, gradually clawing their way back into the game. Retaining majority of Possession, they were let down by handling errors from Brian Omondi, Maurice Mbai and Tito Oduk but finally Put Points on the board when Fabian Olando drilled home a Penalty to cut the deficit to 7-3. Another massive kick from the twenty year old saw the big cats trail 7-6 going into the breather.

It was all Lions at the start of the second half. Anthony Ochino stole the ball off a Rhinos set Piece, setting off a counter attack that concluded with Maurice Mbai landing in the corner to see the 2008 chamPions lead 11-7. Olando’s third successful Penalty attemPt extend the lead to 14-7 before the Rhinos regrouPed.

Substitute Allan Omuka,dangerous since his introduction, touched down with Adimo’s conversion leveling the scores at 14-14. Kenya international Patrice Agunda retook the lead for Rhinos, grounding the ball for a 19-14 score line before Lang’o comPleted his double, burying the Lions with a try that brought the scores to 24-14. A late try from Ochino was not enough to salvage the Lions as they went down 24-19.

The Nguvu Sharks also secured semi final qualification from this Pool,

beating the Coastal Bulls 22-0 in Mombasa after leading 17-0 at half time. Edwin Ombogo, Anthony Ngera, Mike Wanjala and Edwin Salamba each scored one try with Peter Ocholla managing one conversion.

The SDV Transami Cheetahs finished toP of Pool B with a 70-7 win over the visiting Mumias Sugar Buffaloes in a match Played at Nairobi’s RFUEA Grounds while Rwenzori returned to the semis with an 11-8 win over Victoria in the Ugandan derby Played at the KamPala RUFC grounds.

Match Day Three Collated Results

SEMI FINALS Pairings Match Fixtures- 21st May 2011 UAP Rhinos vs Rwenzori